2 mothers charged in fatal Fairfield fire

(07-02) 13:59 PDT FAIRFIELD -- The mothers of four unattended children who died in a Fairfield apartment fire that was started by a candle atop a TV set have been charged with manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday.

The Solano County district attorney's office charged 24-year-old Shetarra James, the mother of three of the children, and 23-year-old Latisha James, the mother of the other child, with four counts each of manslaughter and child endangerment, authorities said.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the women, who are sisters.

The four children, ranging in age from 1 to 4, died when their apartment at 728 Delaware St. downtown caught fire April 28 after a candle was left burning on the top of a television set, authorities said. The mothers were in a parking lot outside at the time.

The children were left unattended for about 30 minutes before the fire broke out, prosecutor Karen Jensen said. Three of them were strapped into strollers while the fire raged, she said.

"The fire itself was accidental," Jensen said. "It is leaving the kids unattended with the burning candles that is the issue."

Two other candles were burning in the apartment, which was without power because no one had paid the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. bill.

Killed were Robert Charles Jr., 4; Natalie Rogers and Nevaeh Nunn, both 2; and Keviana Morgan, 1.

All four children lived in the apartment, the county coroner's office said. The children's mothers suffered smoke inhalation and burns.

E-mail Will Kane at wkane@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle